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Hhe Battle 

of 

Ivexington 



By JlEV. JONAS CLJIliKE 



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V' ^ Rev. JONAS CLARKE 

Born 1730,— graduated from Harvard College 1752, — third 
pastor in Lexington (formerly Cambridge Farms) 1755 
to 1805. He married Lucy Bowes, daughter of 
Rev. Nicholas Bowes of Bedford and grand- 
daughter of Rev. John Hancock, the second 
minister in Lexington. Gov. John 
Hancock, the signer of the Dec- 
laration, was cousin to Mrs. 
Clarke and grandson of 
Rev. John Hancock. 



OPENING OF THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION 



19th of April 1775. 



A BRIEF NARRATIVE 



OF THE 



PRINCIPAL TRANSACTIONS OF THAT DAY 



BY 

JONAS CLARKE, 

PASTOR OF THE CHURCH IN LEXINGTON. 

Appended to a sermon preached by him in Lexingiott, Afril ig, /77O, 



LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 
THE LEXINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

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Otfl 

Publisher 

If P'05 



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A NARRATIVE, &c. 



As it was not consistent with the limits of a 
single discourse, to give a full account of the par- 
ticulars of this most savage and murderous affair ; 
the following plain and faithful narrative of facts, 
as they appeared to us in this place, may be matter 
of satisfaction. 

On the evening of the eighteenth of April, 
J 775 > we received two messages; the first verbal, 
the other by express, in writing, from the committee 
of safety, who were then sitting in the westerly part 
of Cambridge, directed to the Honorable John 
Hancock, Esq ; (who, with the Honorable Samuel 
Adams, Esq ; was then providentially with us) in- 
forming, " that eight or nine officers of the king's 
troops were seen, just before night, passing the road 
towards Lexington, in a musing, contemplative 
posture ; and it was suspected they were out upon 
some evil design." 

As both these gentlemen had been frequently 
and even publicly, threatened, by the enemies of 
this people, both in England and America, with the 



vengeance of the British administration: — And as 
Mr. Hancock in particular had been, more than 
once, personally insulted, by some officers of the 
troops, in Boston ; it was not without some -just 
grounds supposed, that under cover of the dark- 
ness, sudden arrest, if not assassination might be 
attempted, by these instruments of tyranny ! 

To prevent any thing of this kind, ten or twelve 
men were immediately collected, in arms, to guard 
my house, through the night. 

In the mean time, said officers passed through 
this town, on the road towards Concord : It was 
therefore thought expedient to watch their motions, 
and if possible make some discovery of their inten- 
tions. Accordingly, about lo o'clock in the evening, 
three men, on horses, were dispatched for this 
purpose. As they were peaceably passing the 
road towards Concord, in the borders of Lincoln, 
they were suddenly stopped by said officers, who 
rode up to them, and putting pistols to their breasts 
and seizing their horses bridles, swore, if they stirred 
another step, they should be all dead men ! — The 
officers detained them several hours, as prisoners, 
examined, searched, abused and insulted them ; and 
in their hasty return (supposing themselves dis- 
covered) they left them in Lexington. — Said officers 
also took into custody, abused and threatened with 
their lives several other persons ; some of whom 
they met peaceably passing on the road, others even 



at the doors of their dwellings, without the least 
provocation, on the part of the inhabitants, or so 
much as a question asked by them. 

Between the hours of twelve and one, on the 
morning of the nineteenth of April, we received 
intelligence, by express, from the Honorable Joseph 
Warren, Esq. ; at Boston, " that a large body of the 
king's troops (supposed to be a brigade of about 1 2, 
or 1500) were embarked in boats from Boston, and 
gone over to land on Lechmere's Point (so.called) 
in Cambridge : And that it was shrewdly suspected, 
that they were ordered to seize and destroy the 
stores, belonging to the colony, then deposited at 
Concord," in consequence of General Gage's un- 
justifiable seizure of the provincial magazine of 
powder at Medford, and other colony stores in 
several other places. 

Upon this intelhgence, as also upon information 
of the conduct of the officers as above-mentioned, 
the militia of this town were alarmed, and ordered 
to meet on the usual place of parade ; not with any 
design of commencing hostilities upon the king's 
troops, but to consult what might be done for our 
own and the people's safety : And also to be ready 
for whatever service providence might call us out 
to, upon this alarming occasion, in case overt acts 
of violence, or open hostilities should be committed 
by this mercenary band of armed and blood-thirsty 
oppressors. 



About the same time, two persons were sent 
express to Cambridge, if possible, to gain intelligence 
of the motions of the troops, and what rout they 
took. 

The militia met according to order ; and waited 
the return of the messengers, that they might order 
their measures as occasion should require. Between 
3 and 4 o'clock, one of the expresses returned, in* 
forming, that there was no appearance of the troops, 
on the roads, either from Cambridge or Charles- 
town ; and that it was supposed that the movements 
in the army the evening before, were only a feint to 
alarm the people. Upon this, therefore, the militia 
company were dismissed for the present, but with 
orders to be within call of the drum, — waiting the 
return of the other messenger, who was expected in 
about an hour, or sooner, if any discovery should be 
made of the motions of the troops. — But he was 
prevented by their silent and sudden arrival at the 
place where he was, waiting for intelligence. So 
that, after all this precaution, we had no notice of 
their approach, 'till the brigade was actually in the 
town, and upon a quick march within about a mile 
and a quarter of the meeting house and place of 
parade. 

However, the commanding officer thought best 
to call the company together, — not with any design 
of opposing so superior a force, much less of com- 
mencing hostilities ; but only with a view to deter- 



mine what to do, when and where to meet, and to 
dismiss and disperse. 

Accordingly, about half an hour after four 
o'clock, alarm guns were fired, and the drums beat 
to arms ; and the militia were collecting together. — 
Some, to the number of about 50, or 60, or possibly 
more, were on the parade, others were coming 
towards it. — In the mean time, the troops having 
thus stolen a march upon us, and to prevent any 
intelligence of their approach, having seized and held 
prisoners several persons whom they met unarmed 
upon the road, seemed to come determined for 
murder and bloodshed ; and that whether provoked 
to it, or not ! — When within about half a quarter 
of a mile of the meeting-house, they halted, and the 
command was given to primiC and load ; which being 
done, they marched on 'till they came up to the 
east end of said meeting-house, in sight of our 
militia (collecting as aforesaid) who were about 12, 
or 1 3 rods distant. — Immediately upon their appear- 
ing so suddenly, and so nigh, Capt. Parker, who 
commanded the militia company, ordered the men 
to disperse, and take care of themselves ; and not to 
fire. — Upon this, our men dispersed ; — but, many 
of them, not so speedily as they might have done, 
not having the most distant idea of such brutal bar- 
barity and more than savage cruelty, from the 
troops of a British king, as they immediately ex- 
perienced ! — ! — For, no sooner did they come in 



sight of our company, but one of them, supposed to 
be an officer of rank, was heard to say to the troops, 
" Damn them ; we will have them ! " — Upon which 
the troops shouted aloud, huzza'd, and rushed 
furiously towards our men. — About the same time, 
three officers (supposed to be Col. Smith, Major 
Pitcairn and another officer) advanced, on horse 
back, to the front of the body, and coming within 
S or 6 rods of the militia, one of them cried out, 
"ye villains, ye Rebels, disperse; Damn you, 
disperse ! " — or words to this effect. One of them 
(whether the same, or not, is not easily determined) 
said, " Lay down your arms ; Damn you, why don't 
you lay down your cams ! " — The second of these 
officers, about this time, fired a pistol towards the 
militia, as they were dispersing. — The foremost, 
who was within a few yards of our men, brandishing 
his sword, and then pointing towards them, with a 
loud voice said to the troops, " Fire ! — By God, fire !" 
' — which was instantly followed by a discharge of 
arms from the said troops, succeeded by a very 
heavy and close fire upon our party, dispersing, so 
long as any of them were within reach. — Eight 
were left dead upon the ground ! Ten were wounded. 
'— The rest of the company, through divine good- 
ness> were (to a miracle) preserved unhurt in this 
murderous action ! — 

As to the question, * Who fired first ? ' — if it can 
be a question with any ; we may observe, that 

6 



though General Gage hath been pleased to tell the 
world, in his account of this savage transaction, 
" that the troops were fired upon by the rebels out 
of the meeting-house, and the neighbouring houses, 
as well as by those that were in the field ; and that 
the troops only returned the fire, and passed on 
their way to Concord ; " — yet nothing can be more 
certain than the contrary, and nothing more false, 
weak or wicked, than such a representation. 

To say nothing of the absurdity of the sup- 
position, that 50, 60, or even 70 men, should, in the 
open field, commence hostilities with 12, or 1500, 
of the best troops of Britain,* nor of the known 
determination of this small party of Americans, 
upon no consideration whatever, to begin the scene 
of bloodt — A cloud of witnesses, whose veracity 
cannot be justly disputed, upon oath have declared, 
in the most express and positive terms, that the 
British troops fired first :t — And I think, we may 
safely add, without the least reason or provocation. 
— Nor was there opportunity given, for our men to 
have saved themselves, either by laying down their 
arms, or dispersing, as directed, had they been 



* 1200 or 1500, was the number we then supposed the brigade to consist 
of : though afterwards, by the best accounts, it appeared, that there were 
but about Soo. 

t From a most intimate acquaintance with the sentiments of the in- 
habitants of this town, then collected in arms, I think I may boldly assert, 
that it was their known determination not to commence hostilities, upon 
the king's troops ; though they were equally determined to stand by their 
rights to the last. 

{ See narrative and depositions, published by authority. 



disposed to ; as the command to fire upon them was 
given almost at the same instant, that they were 
ordered, by the British officers, to disperse, to lay 
down their arms, etc. 

In short, so far from firing first upon the king's 
troops ; upon the most careful enquiry, it appears, 
that but very few of our people fired at all ; and 
even they did not fire till after being fired upon by 
the troops, they were wounded themselves, or saw 
others killed, or wounded by them, and looked upon 
it next to impossible for them to escape. 

As to any firing from the meeting-house, as 
Gage represents ; it is certain, that there were but 
four men in the meeting house, when the troops 
came up : and they were then getting some ammu- 
nition, from the town stock, and had not so much 
as loaded their guns (except one, who never dis- 
charged it) when the troops fired upon the militia. 
And as to the neighbouring houses, it is equally 
certain, that there was no firing from them, unless 
after the dispersion of our men, some, who had fled 
to them for shelter, might fire from them upon the 
troops. 

One circumstance more, before the brigade 
quitted Lexington, I beg leave to mention, as what 
may give a further specimen of the spirit and 
character, of the officers and men, of this body of 
troops. — After the militia company were dispersed 
and the firing ceased, the troops drew up and 

8 



formed in a body, on the common, fired a volley and 
gave three huzzas, by way of triumph, and as ex- 
pressive of the joy of victory and glory of con- 
quest ! — ! — Of this transaction, I was a witness, 
having, at that time, a fair view of their motions, 
and being at the distance of not more than 70 or 80 
rods from them. 

Whether this step was honorary to the detach- 
ment, or agreeable to the rules of war — or how far 
it was expressive of bravery, heroism and true 
military glory, for 800 disciplined troops of Great 
Britain, without notice or provocation, to fall upon 
60, or 70, undisciplined Americans, who neither 
opposed nor molested them, and murder some and 
disperse the rest, and then to give the shout and 
make the triumph of victory, is not for me to deter- 
mine ; but must be submitted to the impartial world 
to judge.— That " there is a God with whom is the 
power, and the glory, and the victory," is certain : 
but whether he will set his seal to the triumph, 
made upon this most peculiar occasion, by following 
it with further successes, and finally giving up this 
people into the hands of those, that have thus 
cruelly commenced hostiUties against them, must 
be left to time to discover. — But to return from 
this digression, if it may be called a digression. 

Having thus vanquished the party in Lexing- 
ton, the troops marched on for Concord, to execute 
their orders, in destroying the stores belonging to 



the colony, deposited there. — They met with no 
interruption in their march to Concord. — But by 
some means or other, the people of Concord had 
notice of their approach and designs, and were 
alarmed about break of day ; and collecting as soon, 
and as many as possible, improved the time they 
had before the troops came upon them, to the best 
advantage, both for concealing and securing as 
many of the public stores as they could, and in 
preparing for defence. — By the stop of the troops 
at Lexington, many thousands were saved to the 
colony, and they were, in a great measure, frustrated 
in their design. 

When the troops made their approach to the 
easterly part of the town, the provincials of Con- 
cord and some neighbouring towns, were collected 
and collecting in an advantageous post, on a hill, a 
little distance from the meeting-house, north of the 
road, to the number of about 150, or 200 : but find- 
ing the troops to be more than three times as many, 
they wisely retreated, first to a hill about 80 rods 
further north, and then over the north-bridge (so- 
called) about a mile from the town : and there they 
waited the coming of the militia of the towns adja- 
cent, to their assistance. 

In the mean time, the British detachment 
marched into the center of the town. A party 
of about 200, was ordered to take possession of said 
bridge, other parties were dispatched to various 



parts of the town, in search of public stores, while 
the remainder were employed in seizing and destroy- 
ing, whatever they could find in the town-house, 
and other places, where stores had been lodged. — 
But before they had accomplished their design, they 
were interrupted by a discharge of arms, at said 
bridge. 

It seems, that of the party above-mentioned, as 
ordered to take possession of the bridge, one half 
were marched on about two miles, in search of 
stores, at Col. Barret's and that part of the town : 
while the other half, consisting of towards lOO men, 
under Capt. Lawrie, were left to guard the bridge. 
The provincials, who were in sight of the bridge, 
observing the troops attempting to take up the 
planks of said bridge, thought it necessary to dis- 
lodge them, and gain possession of the bridge. — 
They accordingly marched, but with express orders 
not to fire, unless first fired upon by the king's 
troops. Upon their approach towards the bridge, 
Capt. Lawrie 's party fired upon them, killed Capt. 
Davis and another man dead upon the spot, and 
wounded several others. Upon this our militia 
rushed on, with a spirit becoming free-born Ameri- 
cans, returned the fire upon the enemy, killed 2, 
wounded several and drove them from the bridge, 
and pursued them towards the town, 'till they were 
covered by a reinforcement from the main body. 
The provincials then took post on a hill, at some 



distance, north of the town : and as their numbers 
were continually increasing, they were preparing to 
give the troops a proper discharge, on their depart- 
ure from the town. 

In the mean time, the king's troops collected ; 
and having dressed their wounded, destroyed what 
stores they could find, and insulted and plundered 
a number of the inhabitants, prepared for a retreat. 

" While at Concord, the troops disabled two 24 
pounders ; destroyed their 2 carriages, and seven 
wheels for the same, with their limbers. Sixteen 
wheels for brass 3 pounders, and 2 carriages with 
limber and wheels for two 4 pounders. They threw 
into the river, wells, &g. about 500 weight of ball : 
and stove about 60 barrels of flour ; but not having 
time to perfect their work, one half of the flour was 
afterwards saved." * 

The troops began a hasty retreat about the 
middle of the day : and were no sooner out of the 
town, but they began to meet the effects of the just 
resentments of this injured people. The provincials 
fired upon them from various quarters, and pursued 
them (though without any military order) with a 
firmness and intrepidity, beyond what could have 
been expected, on the first onset, and in such a day 
of confusion and distress ! — The fire was returned, 
for a time, with great fury, by the troops as they 
retreated, though (through divine goodness) with 

* See Rev. Mr. Gordon's account. 



but little execution. — This scene continued, with 
but little intermission, till they returned to Lexing- 
ton ; when it was evident, that, having lost numbers 
in killed, wounded, and prisoners that fell into our 
hands, they began to be, not only fatigued, but 
greatly disheartened. And it is supposed they must 
have soon surrendered at discretion, had they not 
been reinforced. — But Lord Percy's arrival with 
another brigade, of about looo men, and 2 field 
pieces, about half a mile from Lexington meeting- 
house, towards Cambridge, gave them a seasonable 
respite. 

The coming of the reinforcement, with the 
cannon, (which our people were not so well ac- 
quainted with then, as they have been since) put 
the provincials also to a pause, for a time. — But no 
sooner were the king's troops in motion, but our 
men renewed the pursuit with equal, and even 
greater ardor and intrepidity than before, and the 
firing on both sides continued, with but little inter- 
mission, to the close of the day, when the troops 
entered Charlestown, where the provincials could 
not follow them, without exposing the worthy in- 
habitants of that truly patriotic town, to their rage 
and revenge. — That night and the next day, they 
were conveyed in boats, over Charles-River to Bos- 
ton, glad to secure themselves, under the cover of 
the shipping, and by strengthening and perfecting 
the fortifications, at every part, against the further 



attacks of a justly incensed people, who, upon intel- 
ligence of the murderous transactions of this fatal 
day, were collecting in arms, round the town, in 
great numbers, and from every quarter. 

In the retreat of the king's troops from Con- 
cord to Lexington, they ravaged and plundered, 
as they had opportunity, more or less, in most of 
the houses that were upon the road. — But after 
they were joined by Piercy's brigade, in Lexington, 
it seemed as if all the little remains of humanity had 
left them ; and rage and revenge had taken the 
reins, and knew no bounds ! — Clothing, furniture, 
provisions, goods, plundered, broken, carried off, or 
destroyed ! — Buildings (especially dwelling-houses) 
abused, defaced, battered, shattered, and almost 
ruined! — And as if this had not been enough, 
numbers of them doomed to the flames! — Three 
dwelling houses, two shops and a barn, were laid in 
ashes, in Lexington* ! — Many others were set on 
fire, in this town, in Cambridge, &c. and must have 
shared the same fate, had not the close pursuit of 
the provincials prevented, and the flames been sea- 
sonably quenched ! — Add to all this ; the unarmed, 
the aged and infirm, who were unable to flee, are 
inhumanly stabbed and murdered in their habita- 
tions ! — Yea, even women in child-bed, with their 
helpless babes in their arms, do not escape the hor- 

* Deacon Loring's house and barn, Mrs. Lydia Mulliken's house, and 
her son's shop, and Mr. Joshua Bond's house and shop. 

14 



rid alternative, of being either cruelly murdered in 
their beds, burnt in their habitations, or turned into 
the streets to perish with cold, nakedness and dis- 
tress ! — But I forbear — words are too insignificant 
to express, the horrid barbarities of that distress- 
ing day ! — ! — ! t 

Our loss, in the several actions of that day, 
was 49 killed, 34 wounded and 5 missing, who were 
taken prisoners, and have since been exchanged. 
The enemy's loss, according to the best accounts, 
in killed, wounded and missing, about 300. 

As the war was thus began with savage cruelty, 
in the aggressors ; so it has been carried on with 
the same temper and spirit, by the enemy in but too 
many instances. Witness the wanton cruelty, dis- 
covered in burning Charlestown, Norfolk, Fal- 
mouth, &c. But as events which have taken 
place since the ever memorable nineteenth of 
April, 1775, do not properly come within the com- 
pass of this narrative, they must be left for some 
abler pen to relate. 



t " Quorum pars magna fui." ViR. 



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